American Rifleman - May 2010 - (Page 16)

SPECIAL FEATURE
ILA STORY
By Chris W. Cox NRA-ILA Executive Director
ONE ON ONE
et’s face it—when you work in politics, sometimes you have to spend time with boring people. That’s why it was so much fun for me recently to visit with NRA champion Ted Nugent. He’s ery, zealous, unrestrained and bursting with opinions that are anything but cautious. Most readers know that Ted is a long-serving member of the NRA Board of Directors, and of course a rock-and-roll legend. But I’d bet fewer know that Ted founded the non-pro t Ted Nugent Kamp for Kids, and also works as an ambassador for Big Brothers Big
COX: Let’s ll in some of the gaps on how you got here. Tell us about your upbringing in Detroit. TED: Born in Detroit in 1948, I was immediately touched by Les Paul’s new electric guitar invention and the incredible power of Fred Bear’s new bowhunting celebration. I grew up along the banks of the Rouge River where I cut my teeth on bowhunting and slingshotting river rats, squirrels, quail,
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Sisters and the Pass It On-Outdoor Mentors program. The Nugents also established the Freedom’s Angels foundation, which provides assistance to our brave troops. Ted is also working with the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, the Wounded Warrior Project and the United States Fallen Heroes Foundation, and he has toured the Middle East with the USO. Ted regularly takes terminally ill children and wounded troops on hunts. In his spare time, he has put on more than 6,000 concerts and made thousands of media appearances, advocating for the Second Amendment and freedom everywhere he goes.
The curse of apathy is the number one enemy of America, and I refuse to allow the sacri ces of U.S. military heroes to go for naught. Activism is the duty of all Americans. An experiment in self-government demands participation by all who bene t from it. These heroes, these military warriors, who volunteered to crush evil wherever they could nd it—if they are so willing to sacri ce so much, how dare any of us not participate? So to each of those gun owners who don’t participate in the freedom provided by the sacri ces of warriors, I would beg thee, to do some research, visit a vet’s home, salute some ag-draped co ns, hold a crying mother and reconsider whether you might owe somebody something. COX: That’s a powerful statement. What message do you have for those 20 to 25 million gun owners who aren’t registered to vote, who have chosen not to participate and are truly not able to make a di erence? TED: Everywhere I go, every interview I do, I basically say, “If you’re not a member of the NRA you’re helping the enemy, which makes you the enemy.” Now, a lot of gentle souls across the land have their feelings
ducks, coons and possums. The intensely powerful loving discipline of my parents taught me to always be the best that I can be, with my guitar, bows and guns. COX: What drives you to be so outspoken in defense of hunting and Second Amendment issues? TED: I have made a di erence every day of my life by standing up for what I believe in, in a no-holds-barred, passionate way.
Chris Cox (r.) speaks with Ted Nugent at his home about his active support of the Second Amendment.
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2010
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Rifleman - May 2010